Slurry diffusing machine



Jan. 15 1963 E. KOTHE SLURRY DIFFUSING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1961 INVENTOR.

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4 Sheets-Shet' 4 Filed Sept. 28, 1961 R m m m [WALD KOTHE arm K 3,073,531 SLURRY DIFFUSING MACHENE Ewaid Kathe, Wheat Ridge, Clo., assignor to Coors Porceiain Company, Golden, Colo, a corporation of Colorado Filed Sept. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 141,535 7 Claims. (Cl. 239-223) I This invention relates to a slurry diffusing machine comprising in an integral unit the convenient arrangement of a slinger and its drive, slurry valve and its controlling drive, and the cooling and lubricating water to maintain the proper environment for the slurry and the drive elements in a single assembly for accurate adjustment and easy cleaning by means of water-flushing of slurry channels. More particularly the invention relates to mechanism for diffusing ceramic and other slurries containing high density materials in the process of drying the mixtures to convert them to free flowing dry particle form. In the ceramic arts, such slurries are also known as slips. The dried product may be used for manufacturing highly compact ceramic products.

The machine of this invention comprises a rotated inverted cone shaped diffusing member known in the trade as a slinger. The diffusing member and mechanism for rotating it are mounted in the upper part of a large spray drying chamber which may be, for example, 40 or more feet in height and 32 feet in diameter. Conventional slip slingers heretofore known are of the bottom drive type and comprise a tall vertically disposed column of concrete or other suitable material rising from the floor of the drying chamber for supporting on its upper endthe driving means for rotating the slinger which is located above the driving means and near the ceiling of the chamber. Such prior art installations require separate mechanisms for rotating the diffusing member and for feeding the slurry thereto, and are costly to install and difiicult to service. Other conventional diffusers may be of the lantern type consisting of two parallel metal discs spaced apart at intervals about the outer edge with separating spools. Such diffusers may be driven by a top mounted drive motor.

The main object of my invention is to provide, in a compact unit, combined top drive and slurry feeding means for the diffusing member, said means being located above the diffusing cone in position accessible through an opening in the ceiling of the drying chamber, thereby eliminating the need for the tall central supporting colslurry feeding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for efiiciently controlling the slurry flow to the diffusing cone, for dispersing the slurry during its flow to the cone to prevent non-uniform delivery of slurry, and for maintaining the feed valve in adjusted position by easily accessible means. The precise control of the slurry feed and dispersion of the slurry during its how to the diffusing member prevents non-uniform feeding of the slurry to the diffusing cone, prevents any centrifuge action on the slurry, and results in uniform particle size of the dried product.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for combined water lubrication of the operating mechanism and water cooling of the slurry as it passes to the diffusing member. The water circulation system is designed to pass water at predetermined speed of flow adjacent the parts to be water lubricated and also to pass the Water adjacent the slurry feed passages for efficient cooling of the slurry. This arrangement eliminates use of oil as a lubricant and obviates the danger of contaminating the slurry with oil. Cooling of the slurry while it is passing to the diitusing member is desirable to umn and for separate slinger rotating mechanism and Patented Jan. 15, 1953 maintain the proper consistency of the slurry until it reaches the diffusing member. Without such cooling of the slurry, premature drying and altering of the slurry consistency might occur due to the high temperature, about 500 F., of the drying chamber in which the diffusing machine is located.

Another advantage of the invention is the direct coupling of the motor shaft and the top drive shaft connected to the slurry difiusing member, and the accessible location of the direct shaft to shaft couplings.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the drawings and following specification.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational front view, partly in section, of a slurry diffusing machine embodying my invention, showing the slurry feed valve in closed position.

PEG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the feed valve in open position.

FIG. 3a is a vertical sectional view through the upper part of the machine and FIG. 3b is a continuation of FIG. 3a through the lower part of the machine, the two parts placed on separate sheets to permit showing on a larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan View, on an enlarged scale, of the feed valve plug, detached.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of part of the plug of FIG. 4.

. PEG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of the line d6 of FIG. 3b, looking downwardly as indicated by the arrows.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, and referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric motor it) is located above a housing 11 containing a coupling 12 which couples the motor shaft 13 to the vertical main shaft 14 on the lower end of which is mounted the slinger or slurry diffusing cone 15 which is rotated with the shaft 14.

The shaft 1d and other mechanism, which will be described with reference to other figures of the drawings, are encased in an outer pipe or tubular housing 16 which has limited vertical movement relatively to mechanism housed therein. A feed valve member 17 is fixed on the lower end of the housing 16. The valve member 17 cooperates with a centrally bored valve plug 18 located in the tubular housing 16 and mounted on pipe 33 referred to hereinafter. Movement of the tubular housing 16 and attached valve 17 to its downward limit opens the feed valve to provide an annular passageway which can be variably opened up to about /8 inch in radial width, for feeding slurry to the diffusing member 15, as shown in FIG. 2, and movement to its upward limit, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3b, closes the valve by bringing the part 17 into seated relationship against the plug 18.

Mechanism for actuating the housing 16 and attached valve member 17 to the open, closed or intermediate position relatively to the plug 18 comprises a motor 20, a horizontal motor shaft 21, a first link 22 mounted to rotate with shaft 21, a second link 23 pivotally connected at 24 to the first link 22 and pivotally connected at 25 to a yoke member 26 which straddles the tubular housing 16 and is pivotally connected thereto at opposite sides by pins or bolts 27. That portion 26' of the yoke 26 which extends toward the right of FIGS. 1 and 2, has pivotally connected to it the piston rod 28 of an air cylinder 29 which serves as a safety device to insure complete closure of valve 17, but is not essential to the invention.

The mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, not including the motor 163 and coupling 12 which connects the motor shaft 11 to the main shaft 14, may be approximately 55 inches in height, the diffusing cone 15 being approximately inches in diameter. These dimensions are merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention suitable for a drying chamber of the proportions heretofore mentioned, and obviously may be varied with out departing from the invention. The upper part of the diffusing machine, including the valve actuating means, may be supported in a housing (not shown) of which the support 3d is a part, and the housing may be mounted in the ceiling of the drying chamber and thus be accessible to a person on the floor above the said ceiling for convenient servicing of the mechanism and for connection of the slurry feed and water conduits to be described hereinafter.

Referring to PEG. 3a, in which the motor 10, housing 11 and actuating mechanism 20-29 have been omitted, the numeral 31 indicates a collar, and 32 a hearing which is mounted in an inner pipe 37 and carries the shaft 14. Below them is a seal spacer 33, seal 34, collar 35 and flange 36 on the inner pipe 37. Between the inner pipe 37 and outer tubular housing 16 is a middle pipe 33, concentric and parallel to each other. The middle pipe gland is indicated at 39 and the outer pipe gland at The main shaft 14 is supported in bearings 41 and 42, externally threaded at 41 and 42', respectivel to euga e the internally threaded portions of the inner pipe 37 in which they are mounted to surround the shaft 14.

Water for lubricating the rotating mechanism and for cooling the slurry passing to the diffusing member 15 is circulated by the following described means: A vertical passageway 43, annular in horizontal cross section throughout most of its length, is formed between the shaft l and inner pipe 37 for downward flow of water. A similar passageway 44 is formed between the inner pipe 37 and middle pipe 38 for upward flow of water. A water inlet 46 extends through sleeve and inner pipe 37 into passageway 43. A water outlet extends from passageway 4dthrough middle pipe 38 and surrounding sleeve 48. The water passageways 43 and 44 are restricted in portions of their lengths opposite bearings 4-1, 42, as explained hereinafter, and communicate with each other at their lower ends through channels 49 above the seal 50 (FIG. 3b). The water in passageway 43 is dispersed through vertical grooves 51 in a rubber bearing 52 located between an inner steel sleeve 53 and the bearing member 42, as shown in FIGS. 3b and 6. A similar rubber bearing 52 and inner sleeve 53 is located within bearing 41. The upfiowing water in passageway 44- also is restricted in a portion of the passage, where it flows through two circular bores 44' formed in the valve plug 13, as shown in FIGS. 3b, 4 and 6.

To feed slurry to the diffusing member 15, an annular passageway 55 is provided in the space between the outer tubular housing 16 and the middle pipe 38. An inlet 56 feeds slurry to the passage 55, from which it passes downwardiy through vertical grooves 57 formed in the valve plug it; below the end of the middle pipe 3h. FIG. 5 shows in side elevation the shape of the ribs 58 which define the grooves 57. An O-ring 59 is located between the lower end of the middle pipe 38 and the plug 18, the latter being connected to the pipe by threads 60.

Slurry fed into the passageway 55 is dispersed by the oppositely inclined upper surfaces of the ribs 58 leading to the grooves 57 in valve plug 18, insuring uniform distribution of the slurry as it is delivered to the diffusing cone 15. The cone 15 is fixedly mounted on the lower end of the shaft 14 by male and female adapters 61, 62, respectively, a nut lock 63, screws 64 and nut 65, as shown in FIG. 3b.

The arrangement of the top drive means, slurry feeding means, and water system for cooling the slurry and lubricating the moving parts, herein shown and described, provides a very compact unit, efficient for its intended purposes, easy to install and accessible for servicing.

The specific constructions and arrangement of parts herein illustrated are for exemplary purposes only and it should be understood that the principles of the invention embrace variations and modifications thereof which come within the scope of the following claims. For example, it is convenient to actuate the valve member 17 by moving the tubular housing 16 to which it is attached, but said member 17 may be moved independently of the tubular housing 16 for the purpose of opening the valve and allowing slurry to pass between the parts 17 and However, by employing the valve actuating means 2ll-26 connected to the tubular housing 16, as herein shown, said actuating means are readily accessible for manual or other adjustment from the top of the machine. Cther changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the invention.

1 claim:

1. A top drive slurry diffusing machine comprising (a) a vertical rotated shaft,

(ii) a slurry diffusing member fixed on the lower end of the shaft and rotated therewith,

(c) an outer vertical housing surrounding and spaced from the shaft,

(12') means concentric with the shaft defining an annular slurry passageway within the tubular housing,

(0) means defining an annular water passageway within the tubular housing between the shaft and the slurry passageway for simultaneously lubricating the shaft and cooling the slurry,

(f) a slurry feed valve comprising a valve member on the lower end of the tubular housing and a plug located between the vertical shaft and said member,

(g) means moving one of said valve member and valve plug relatively to the other,

(12) a slurry inlet in the tubular housing communicab ing with said annular slurry passageway, and

(i) means on the valve plug uniformly dispersing the slurry through the valve to the diffusing member.

2. The slurry diffusing machine defined by claim 1, in which the valve member is downwardly inwardly tapered and the slurry diffusing member is an inverted hollow cone shaped member concentrically mounted on the shaft.

3. The slurry diffusing machine defined by claim 1, in which the means defining an annular water passageway comprises a pair of pipes of dilferent diameters concentric with the shaft communicating with each other at their lower ends and forming annular passageways for water traveling in opposite directions, a water inlet communicating with one of said passageways and a water outlet communicating with the other of said passageways.

4. The slurry diffusing machine defined by claim 3, in which one of said water passageways surrounds the shaft and the other of said passageways is located adjacent the slurry passageway for cooling the slurry.

5. A top drive slurry diffusing machine comprising (a) a vertical rotated shaft,

(b) a slurry diffusing member fixed on the lower end of said shaft and rotated therewith,

(c) an outer tubular housing surrounding and spaced from the shaft,

(d) an inner pipe,

(2) a middle pipe radially spaced from the inner pipe, said inner and middle pipes being located between and spaced from the shaft and from said outer tubular housing,

( said shaft and inner pipe defining a passageway for water moving in one direction and said inner pipe and middle pipe defining a passageway for water moving in the opposite direction, said water passageways communicating with each other,

(g) a slurry feed valve comprising a valve member on the lower end of the tubular housing and a valve plug between the shaft and tubular housing above the diifusing member,

(h) means imparting movement in vertical direction to one of said valve members to open and close said feed valve,

(1') said middle pipe and said outer tubular housing forming a slurry passageway,

(i) a slurry inlet in the housing leading into the slurry passageway,

(k) a shaft bearing having a longitudinally grooved rubber insert,

(1) said water passageway between the shaft and the inner pipe communicating with the grooves in said rubber insert, and

(In) said slurry passageway extending downwardly between the valve member and valve plug when in open position for delivering slurry to the dilfusing member.

6. A top drive slurry diffusing machine comprising (a) a vertical rotated shaft,

(b) a slurry difiusing member fixed on the lower end of said shaft and rotated therewith,

(c) an outer tubular housing surrounding and spaced from the shaft,

(d) an inner pipe,

(e) a middle pipe radially spaced from the inner pipe, said inner and middle pipes being located between and spaced from the shaft and from said outer tubular housing,

(1) said shaft and inner pipe defining a passageway for water moving in one direction and said inner pipe and middle pipe defining a passageway for water moving in the opposite direction, said water passageways communicating with each other,

(g) a slurry feed valve comprising a valve member on the lower end of the tubular housing and a valve plug between the shaft and tubular housing above the diffusing member,

(h) said valve plug being provided with vertical bores extending therethrough and the water passageway between the inner and middle pipe communicating with said valve plug bores,

(i) means imparting movement in vertical direction to one of said valve members to open and close said feed valve,

(i) said middle pipe and said outer tubular housing I forming a slurry passageway.

(k) a slurry inlet in the housing leading into the slurry passageway, and

(I) said slurry passageway extending downwardly between the valve member and valve plug when in open position for delivering slurry to the dilfusing member.

7. A top drive slurry diffusing machine comprising (a) a vertical rotated shaft,

(b) :a slurry diffusing member fixed on the lower end of said shaft and rotated therewith,

(c) an outer tubular housing surrounding and spaced from the shaft,

(d) an inner pipe,

(e) a middle pipe radially spaced from the inner pipe, said inner and middle pipes being located between and spaced from the shaft and from said outer tubular housing,

(1) said shaft and inner pipe defining a passageway for water moving in one direction and said inner pipe and middle pipe defining a passageway for water moving in the opposite direction, said water passageways communicating with each other,

(g) a slurry feed valve comprising a valve member on the lower end of the tubular housing and a valve plu-g between the shaft and tubular housing above the diffusing member,

(h) said valve plug being provided with a plurality of slurry dispersing ribs separated by vertical grooves through which the slurry is uniformly distributed to the surface of the diifusing member, and said plug being provided with vertical bores extending therethrough for passage of water through said bores from the water passageway between the inner and middle pipes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 840,818 Beach Jan. 8, 1907 1,732,110 Riley Oct. 15, 1929 2,151,100 Hadley Mar. 21, 1939 2,495,328 Harrison Ian. 24, 1950 2,955,565 Schotland Oct. 11, 1960 

1. A TOP DRIVE SLURRY DIFFUSING MACHINE COMPRISING (A) A VERTICAL ROTATED SHAFT, (B) A SLURRY DIFFUSING MEMBER FIXED ON THE LOWER END OF THE SHAFT AND ROTATED THEREWITH, (C) AN OUTER VERTICAL HOUSING SURROUNDING AND SPACED FROM THE SHAFT, (D) MEANS CONCENTRIC WITH THE SHAFT DEFINING AN ANNULAR SLURRY PASSAGEWAY WITHIN THE TUBULAR HOUSING, (E) MEANS DEFINING AN ANNULAR WATER PASSAGEWAY WITHIN THE TUBULAR HOUSING BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE SLURRY PASSAGEWAY FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY LUBRICATING THE SHAFT AND COOLING THE SLURRY, (F) A SLURRY FEED VALVE COMPRISING A VALVE MEMBER ON THE LOWER END OF THE TUBULAR HOUSING AND A PLUG LOCATED BETWEEN THE VERTICAL SHAFT AND SAID MEMBER (G) MEANS MOVING ONE OF SAID VALVE MEMBER AND VALVE PLUG RELATIVELY TO THE OTHER, (H) A SLURRY INLET IN THE TUBULAR HOUSING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ANNULAR SLURRY PASSAGEWAY, AND (I) MEANS ON THE VALVE PLUG UNIFORMLY DISPERSING THE SLURRY THROUGH THE VALVE TO THE DIFFUSING MEMBER. 